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So The Ashes has finally started and the fight for the famous urn has begun, meaning that even those who aren't die hard cricket fans, get in the spirit of supporting the nation’s most British sport.
But how many of us REALLY understand what’s going on as we stare at the TV screen? Admittedly, not everyone… so we created a general breakdown of The Ashes Tournament to give you the knowledge needed to make it through to August… we promise to make it as easy as possible.&nbsp;</p><b><p><b>Firstly, The Ashes is a Test Cricket Tournament, Not a Limited-Overs Game… Not the Same!&nbsp;</b></p></b><p><span style="font-size: 1.1em; letter-spacing: 0px;">T</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">he quickest way to tell the difference between the two, is by the colour of their kits. When the players are all in white and using a red ball, it is a test cricket match, but when it is played in coloured clothing, using a white ball, it is a limited-overs match.</span></p><p><img alt="thumbnail" src="http://www.sportsdirect.com/images/marketing/c4.jpg"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br></span></p><p>The second way to tell them apart, is the length of the game. A Test match is always played over the course of five days, with each day consisting of six hours and 90 overs bowled. The Ashes Tournament includes 5 tests in total, which will all take place between 8th July and 24th August, this year.</p><p><b>How The Game Goes Down</b></p><p>Test cricket allows each team (let’s call them Team A and Team B) to bat twice (each time is called an innings) and each team bats until either 10 batsmen are out, or the captain of the batting side declares so (as a cheeky tactic).&nbsp;</p><p>After the first innings (when both teams have batted once), if Team B are dismissed with a score 200 runs or more behind Team A, then Team A can choose whether to make Team B bat first in the second innings.&nbsp;<br>If Team B must bat first in the second innings and their score from both innings doesn’t mount up to Team A’s score from the first innings, then Team A wins. However, if it does surpass their score, Team A must bat for the second time, in hope to beat Team B’s score and win. Yet, if they lose all batsman before reaching Team B’s score, then Team B wins BUT if time runs out before either of these things has happened, the game is a draw.</p><p>If this is not enforced, or Team B have a large enough score, Team A will bat first in the second innings until 10 batsmen are out, they declare finished or time runs out (again, meaning in a draw). If, after batting twice, Team A’s total is less than Team B’s first innings, Team B wins. If not, Team B bats again until they are out.&nbsp;</p><p>After everyone has batted twice, whoever’s score is higher, wins. But if Team B are dismissed before the time is out, then it’s a draw.</p><p><p><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Some of The Terminology (Because if we Listed all of it, We’d Need a Dictionary)&nbsp;</b></span></p><p><u>Attacking Shot</u> – A shot of aggression or strength designed to score runs.</p><p><u>Enforcing the follow-on</u> – Making the second team bat first in the second innings.&nbsp;</p><p><u>Declaration</u> – Choosing to stop batting despite still having batsmen in the game.</p><p><u>Bye</u> – An extra scored when both the batsman and the wicket-keeper miss a bowler’s delivery.</p><p><u>Crease</u> – A line on the pitch near the wickets over which a batsman must pass to score a run.</p><p><u>Cut</u> – A shot played square on the off side (to the right of a right-handed batsman).</p><p><u>Drive</u> – A powerful shot hit back towards the end of the field from which the ball was bowled.</p><p><u>Duck</u> – getting no runs.</p><p><u>Four</u> – A shot that reaches the boundary after bouncing and scores four runs.</p><p><u>Leg before wicket</u> – Dismissal of a ball that the umpire thinks will hit the wicket but is stopped by the batsman’s body.</p><p><img alt="thumbnail" src="http://www.sportsdirect.com/images/marketing/c2.jpg"></p><p><u>Maiden over</u> – An over in which no runs are scored.</p><p><u>No-ball</u> – Illegal delivery bowled while overstepping the crease, giving an extra run to the batting side.</p><p><u>Over</u> – Six consecutive balls by one bowler.</p><p><b>Common Ways a Batsman Can Be Dismissed</b></p><p><u>‘Being Caught’</u> – This happens when a fielder catches the ball before it hits the ground. It doesn't have to come directly off the bat however, it can deflect from the pad onto the bat or vice versa and still be caught. If the ball hits the batsman on the hand that is holding the bat, then they can still be caught out. If it is the wicketkeeper that catches the ball, the batter is out ‘caught behind’.&nbsp;</p><p><u>‘Being Bowled’</u> – This happens is a bowler manages to get the ball through the batsman and knock off the bails (the two bits of wood that rest on top of the stumps).&nbsp;</p><p><u>‘Leg Before Wicket’</u> – Similar to the offside rule in Football, this one isn't easy – sorry!&nbsp;<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Basically, the umpire will consider a leg before wicket (lbw) if he believes the ball would have hit the stumps, had it not been obstructed by the batsman’s pads. Despite having many things to consider in this instance, here is a clear outline of when the batsman WOULD be out due to a lbw:&nbsp;</span></p><p>-<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>If the batsman is hit on the pad in front of the stumps and the ball was pitched in line with the stumps, or outside the line of off stump.&nbsp;<br>-<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>If the batsman is struck on the pad outside the line of the off stump having not tried to hit the ball.&nbsp;</p><p><u>‘Being Run Out’</u> – This is when the batsmen are going for runs, but fall short of the batting crease when the stumps are broken by the fielders.&nbsp;</p><p><img alt="thumbnail" src="http://www.sportsdirect.com/images/marketing/c5.jpg"></p><p><u>‘Being Stumped Out’</u> – This happens when the wicketkeeper collects the ball and knocks off the bails before the batsman gets their bat or themselves grounded behind the batting crease.&nbsp;</p><p><b>Uncommon Ways a Batsman Can Be Dismissed&nbsp;</b></p><p><u>‘Hit Wicket’</u> – When a batsman removes their own bails.</p><p><u>‘Handled the Ball’</u> – When he handles the ball without permission from the fielding side.&nbsp;</p><p><u>‘Double Hit’</u> – Deliberately hitting the ball twice.&nbsp;</p><p><u>‘Obstructing the Field’</u> – Preventing fielders from executing a run out or a catch.</p><p><u>‘Timed out’</u> – When a new batsman takes too long to appear on the field.<br><br><b>So those are the basics! If you need anything else… well now you can just shout a few terms and it’ll fool people! Enjoy!</b><br><div><br></div></p></p>http://blog.sportsdirect.com/post/a-dummies-guide-to-cricket
http://blog.sportsdirect.com/post/a-dummies-guide-to-cricket#commenthttp://blog.sportsdirect.com/post.aspx?id=2017a68e-6902-4f4a-9843-8d367dd152cdFri, 10 Jul 2015 17:30:08 +0000cricketSD_Danielle.Harrod@sportsdirect.comhttp://blog.sportsdirect.com/pingback.axdhttp://blog.sportsdirect.com/post.aspx?id=2017a68e-6902-4f4a-9843-8d367dd152cd0http://blog.sportsdirect.com/trackback.axd?id=2017a68e-6902-4f4a-9843-8d367dd152cdhttp://blog.sportsdirect.com/post/a-dummies-guide-to-cricket#commenthttp://blog.sportsdirect.com/syndication.axd?post=2017a68e-6902-4f4a-9843-8d367dd152cdBest of British Cricket<style>
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</style><p>As the 2015 Ashes is due to start tomorrow (and hopefully England will win the precious urn back from those pesky Australians), we've had a look at some of the most outstanding examples of cricket, demonstrated by England over the years.&nbsp;</p><p style="display: inline !important;"><b>England Winning Series in India, 2012&nbsp;</b></p><p>In 2012, England secured an historic series win in India, for the first time in 28 years. Despite India being almost untouchable on the field, England refused to back down. Instead, they came home with a 2-1 win, and one of the biggest achievements in decades... nice one, lads.</p><img alt="thumbnail" src="http://www.sportsdirect.com/images/marketing/cricket5.jpg"><br><p><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px; font-size: 1.1em;"><br></b></p><p><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px; font-size: 1.1em;">England v Australia, The Ashes, Headingley, 1981</b></p><p>More commonly referred to as the ‘Botham’s Ashes’, this match was one of the most memorable comebacks from England against their old rivals. Despite bookmakers raising the odds for an England victory before the game was over, England still thought they had a long way to go before securing a victory. Winning by 18 runs however, they kept the precious urn for another year...good game, good game!</p><p><img alt="thumbnail" src="http://www.sportsdirect.com/images/marketing/cricket4.jpg"><br><div><br></div><b>Jim Laker’s Unbeatable Figures, 1956</b></p><p>In 1956, Manchester was the setting of cricket history, as the England off-break bowler Jim Laker, recorded the outstanding figures of 19 for 90, - which remain unequalled to this day. Despite Laker and fellow spinner Tony Lock, struggling at the beginning of the game, captain Peter May’s decision to swap them proved the right move, and the Yorkshireman won England the series. Bet he was reyt chuffed.</p><p><b>England Wins The Ashes in Australia For The First Time in Generations, 2010-11&nbsp;</b></p><p>In 2010-11, the English won The Ashes on Australian soil for the first time since the late 80s, and James Anderson’s 24 wickets were a large reason why. In the end, they beat the Aussies by just an inning and 83 runs.&nbsp;</p><p><img alt="thumbnail" src="http://www.sportsdirect.com/images/marketing/cricket3.jpg"></p><p><p><b>Hendrick Leads England to Victory Against Pakistan in 1979 World Cup, 1979&nbsp;</b></p><p>Going into the final group fixture, Pakistan believed they had a strong chance for victory, but Mike Hendrick had no intentions of letting that happen. Despite the opposing teams opening confidence with 27 runs before Hendricks’s retaliation, they had no chance against his outstanding swing bowling which lead to England winning by 14 runs to going into the semi-finals with an all-win record. Sorry, not sorry.</p><p><img alt="thumbnail" src="http://www.sportsdirect.com/images/marketing/cricket2.jpg"></p><p><b>Gooch Carries England into the Final, 1987</b></p><p>During the World Cup semi-final re-match, England were stuck trying to counteract India’s aggressive spin attack – something, that the English commonly struggled with. But the batsman refused to let the signature move, beat him or his team mates and began sweeping the majority of spinners sent in by the Indian team, out of the way. He swept the nation straight into their second World Cup Final.&nbsp;</p><p><p><img alt="thumbnail" src="http://www.sportsdirect.com/images/marketing/cricket1.jpg"></p>Good Luck England, we're routing for you!<br><div><br></div></p></p>http://blog.sportsdirect.com/post/best-of-british-cricket
http://blog.sportsdirect.com/post/best-of-british-cricket#commenthttp://blog.sportsdirect.com/post.aspx?id=8dd82384-44ef-4c9a-bcf7-3bd22521af25Tue, 7 Jul 2015 17:59:47 +0000cricketGeneralSportsWorld CupSD_Danielle.Harrod@sportsdirect.comhttp://blog.sportsdirect.com/pingback.axdhttp://blog.sportsdirect.com/post.aspx?id=8dd82384-44ef-4c9a-bcf7-3bd22521af250http://blog.sportsdirect.com/trackback.axd?id=8dd82384-44ef-4c9a-bcf7-3bd22521af25http://blog.sportsdirect.com/post/best-of-british-cricket#commenthttp://blog.sportsdirect.com/syndication.axd?post=8dd82384-44ef-4c9a-bcf7-3bd22521af25Tales of the Underdog. Top 5 Sporting Comebacks of All Time<style>
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</style><font size="2" face="Tahoma">Everyone loves a sporting underdog, unless you are supporting the favourites, but what are the ones that stick in the memory? We take a look at 5 of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time!<br></font><img alt="thumbnail" src="http://www.sportsdirect.com/images/marketing/469327393.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 15.3999996185303px; width: 500px;"><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><br><b>Golf: Europe in the 2012 Ryder Cup</b><br>The final day of the Medinah (Illinois, U.S.A) 2012 Ryder Cup saw Europe 10-6 down to the USA. Having gone 5-3 up on the Friday, then increasing that lead to 10-6 on the Saturday, the USA were in total control. What happened on the Sunday was a minor miracle: out of the final 12 games, &nbsp;the European team won 8, lost 3 and drew 1, to claim a staggering 14 ½ 13 ½ win. This Ryder Cup has gone down in history as one of the greatest and possibly the most dramatic of all time.</font><div><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><br></font><img alt="thumbnail" src="http://www.sportsdirect.com/images/marketing/930931.jpg" style="width: 500px;"><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><br><b>Cricket: England v Australia - ‘Botham’s’ Ashes, 1981 at Headingley</b><br>England were 1-0 down in the 51st Ashes Series after two tests played, but went on to win the next 3 tests to claim an unlikely 3-1 victory. Two of the tests were drawn in the series which helped England’s cause to retain the Ashes against Australia. Ian Botham was regarded as the catalyst for the victory in the third test due to his incredible batting display and clinical bowling. In Headingley, Botham prevented England going 2-0 down after 3 tests played which would have pretty much signalled the end of the contest. Other comebacks have come close in the world of cricket, but the occasion of an Ashes comeback is too significant to ignore.</font></div><div><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><br></font><img alt="thumbnail" src="http://www.sportsdirect.com/images/marketing/52984457.jpg" style="width: 500px;"><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><br><b>Football: Liverpool v AC Milan – 2005 Champions League Final</b><br>Three goals in quick succession saw Liverpool overturn a 3-0 half-time lead to AC Milan. Milan had taken the lead with goals from Maldini and two from Crespo, but Liverpool levelled the match in the second half, with goals from Gerrard, Smicer and Alonso – all in the space of six minutes. With extra-time seen through with no goals, the match reached the dramatic penalty shootout. &nbsp;Liverpool won the shootout 3-2 and Jerzy Dudek proved to be a hero as he saved several penalties completing the remarkable comeback. This final, in Istanbul, is remembered by fans all over the world and the drama is unlikely to be recaptured.</font></div><div><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><br></font><img alt="thumbnail" src="http://www.sportsdirect.com/images/marketing/56376064.jpg" style="width: 500px;"><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><br><b>Snooker: Stephen Hendry v Jimmy White – 1992 World Championship Final</b><br>Jimmy White was looking to get his first World Championship win, having been the nearly-man so many times. The stage was set in The Crucible, Sheffield for a momentous victory as White had a 14-8 lead after the first session. However, &nbsp;Hendry won 10 straight frames in the evening session &nbsp;to win 18-14 and deny Jimmy White his sought after championship win. This turnaround from Hendry has been dubbed as one of the great comebacks in Snooker history and White remains the ‘people’s champion’, with no world championship wins to date.</font></div><div><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><br></span></font><div><img alt="thumbnail" src="http://www.sportsdirect.com/images/marketing/3396614.jpg" style="width: 500px;"><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><br></font><p><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><b>Tennis: Henri Cochet v Bill Tilden, 1927 Wimbledon Semi-Final</b><br>Bill Tilden was considered the best tennis player of all time in that era, so it was no surprise he was expected to brush aside Henri Cochet and reach the 1927 Wimbledon final. Tilden took a comfortable 2 set lead and led 5-1 in the third set and this was seen as business as usual for the American. What happened next shocked the tennis world! Cochet clawed back the third set 7-5 and won the next two sets 6-4 and 6-3, thus reaching the Wimbledon final. As if this wasn’t enough, &nbsp;the Frenchman went on to win in the final, having again come back from 2 sets down.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><br>What are your favourite sporting comebacks and success stories? Let us know in the comments!&nbsp;</font></p><div><br></div><p>&nbsp;</p></div></div>http://blog.sportsdirect.com/post/tales-of-the-underdog-top-5-sporting-comebacks-of-all-time
http://blog.sportsdirect.com/post/tales-of-the-underdog-top-5-sporting-comebacks-of-all-time#commenthttp://blog.sportsdirect.com/post.aspx?id=eacbca5c-a436-4c32-ab55-5a875c494a50Mon, 29 Sep 2014 12:59:54 +0000cricketSD_emma.parker@sportsdirect.comhttp://blog.sportsdirect.com/pingback.axdhttp://blog.sportsdirect.com/post.aspx?id=eacbca5c-a436-4c32-ab55-5a875c494a500http://blog.sportsdirect.com/trackback.axd?id=eacbca5c-a436-4c32-ab55-5a875c494a50http://blog.sportsdirect.com/post/tales-of-the-underdog-top-5-sporting-comebacks-of-all-time#commenthttp://blog.sportsdirect.com/syndication.axd?post=eacbca5c-a436-4c32-ab55-5a875c494a50